Another New Year is just around the corner. It’s not too early to start the reflection process of your achievements and maybe some goals that fell short. After this is defined, it’s time to focus on what you can do to keep on the right track or steps you can take to get closer to your goals.
It’s important to remember to start small. Behavior changes stick best when it’s one behavior change at a time. Here are some easy everyday tips that you can start now to prep for the New Year ahead and achieving your best self.
Change Your Relationship With Food
It’s time to see food for what it is, a vehicle to carry our energy and overall health and wellness. It’s important to understand how your body reacts and digests the food that you choose. Food affects your cholesterol, levels of fatigue, heart health, weight, stress triggers and more.
Often, people do not take the proper time to discover what food and nutrients are needed to really nourish and recharge their body. Make it a point to make time for your health. It’s a vital choice and not properly evaluating how your body functions with your food intake will eventually catch up with you and could lead to more serious health problems.
Schedule Fitness Into Your Schedule
Consistent physical activity makes a huge difference in your overall wellness, weight control, blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol levels. It can also prevent depression and minimize stress by lowering cortisol levels. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise daily is associated with increased energy and health.
For most adults, the Surgeon General recommends two hours and 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, like brisk walking or bicycling, every week. Find what works best for you and be consistent!
Get Enough Shut Eye
Sleep is essential to good human health. Research has shown that sleep functions as a reset system for the brain, flushing out beta-amyloid plaques known to accumulate in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s. The longer you are awake, the more pressure builds up for your body to sleep and the harder it is to be alert- leading to fogginess and low productivity.
It’s important to pay attention to your body when it needs rest. If you struggle with insomnia, research and methods to help you understand the foundation of what may be causing the sleep debt and how to overcome it.
Practice Mindfulness
Make it a point within the next year to slow down and listen to what your body is trying to tell you. Most of the time when clients develop injuries they are already in the stage of pain. Sometimes, this can be avoided if we practice mindfulness and pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you.
This may mean changing your diet to improve digestion or your work out plan if you notice you’re pushing yourself too much and it’s taking a toll on your body. Remember, perfection is unattainable and things only improve with practice.
Start Standing Up Tall
Poor posture is a common and increasing problem. However, there are several steps you can take to can easily be reverse and heal your spine. One easy tip to improve your posture is daily stretching. Stretching strengthens your muscles and encourages proper alignment resulting in posture being less slouched and more vertical.
These tips are all simple and achievable goals for the New Year approaching. It’s a good plan to set a plan of action before the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season arrives. It’s never too early to get a jumpstart to a healthier and better version of yourself. For more advice, contact us today to schedule a consultation to discuss your unique body type and steps you can take toward achieving a healthier lifestyle.